Reusable clamp for beam forms



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HOMER 7.' DUDLEY IN V EN TOR.

AT TORNE YS NN @N mv \mm NN om om Nov. 30, 1965 H. T. DUDLEY REUSABLECLAMP FOR BEAM FORMS) Filed March e, 1964 Nov. 30,v 1965 H. T. DuDLEYREUSABLE CLAMP FOR BEAM FORMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1964INVENTOR. HOME/fr T. DUDLEY BY ALAD leem-u A TTORNEYS United StatesPatent O 3,220,691 REUSABLE CLAMP FR BEAM FORMS Homer T. Dudley, Tulsa,Ukla., assigner to H. T. Dudley Company, Inc., Tulsa, Okla., acorporation of Oklahoma Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,341 2 Claims.(Cl. 249- -18) This invention relates to a clamp for concrete beamforms. More particularly, this invention relates to a clamp forretaining relatively horizontal beam forms used in building constructionand is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Serial No.101,771, filed April 10, 1961, issued as U.S. Patent No. 3,162,418,dated December 22, 1964.

A primary object of this invention is to provide reusable apparatus forclamping together relatively horizontal beam forms as particularly usedin the construction of multistory concrete structures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp for concrete beamforms which eliminates the need for nails and other fasteners heretooreused in the prior art, and need not be vertically supported.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp for concrete beamforms which can be readily assembled and disassembled after set of theconcrete and be ready for further use,

A still further object of this invention is to provide a clamp forsubstantially nailless concrete beam forms which includes a removableand pivotal lever for actuation of the clamp parts to a position where awedge locked member may be inserted to hold said parts and said forms inthat position and the pivotal lever removable to a next clamp.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent uponreading the specication and claims when taken in conjunction with thefollowing illustrations Vof which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view, partly in section of the beam clampof this invention with respect to typical concrete beam forms which itwill retain as shown in transverse cross section.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a first bracket generally used as apart of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view of an alternate embodiment for asecond bracket.

FIGURE 4 is a partial isometric view depicting a typical usage of thebracket of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and specifically FIG- URES l and 2, theapparatus of this invention is adapted to clamp substantially naillessbeam form members used as forms or molds for concrete beams. As such,the forms comprise vertical side wall members and 12 spaced apart byinternal horizontal bottom member 14. Spacers or kickers 16 and 18 arepositioned externally of the vertical side wall members 10 and 12 asshown. In some instances, the kickers 16 and 18 are aixed to the outsideof vertical side wall members 10 and. 12, although this is notabsolutely necessary in the adaptation and the use of this invention,but will merely provide ease of assembly and disassembling of the forms.Typically, these longitudinal members as shown in cross section inFIGURE lwill -be supported by spaced T-brace members (not shown)extending from the bottom of the beam form members shown downward to theoor or guound. Typiever, it became readily apparent that the disassemblyof said parts would very often destroy their reuse. Ac-

cordingly, the clamp and means lof this invention is 'de-vv vised toobviate that problem.

The clamp basically comprises a horizontal slide bar 20 which can betubular in form, such as rectangularor round in cross section. The slidebar includes a multiplicity of horizontal openings extending across thefull diameter of the slide bar and spaced along the length thereof asshown. At one end, as shown, a pin 24 extends through the last mostopening outwardly each side oi the horizontal slide bar 20, for use withthe removable pivot lever as hereinafter described. At spaced intervalsalong the length of the horizontal slide bar are av plurality ofvertical slots 26 which likewise extend through y the horizontal slidebar which represent the various;

locking positions for the clamp members. Adjacent the end opposite thepin member 24 is a r bracket generally designated by the numeral 2S. Thei bracket includes a support member 30 which is adapted to.

be telescopic about the horizontal slide bar 20 to onev of amultiplicity of positions thereto and locked lby the placement of a keyor pin 34 through openings 32 of the first bracket which coincide withopenings 22 of the horizontal slide bar. In some instances it may bedesired to permanently aix the first bracket to the horizontal slide barin those instances where there will be very little transversedimensional change in the beam forms. Extending upwardly from thesupport mem-ber 30 is an angle bracket 36 having a vertical and ahorizontal portion as shown for supporting connection with kicker 16.The angle bracket 36 is supported to member 30 by a structural gusset38.

Adjacent the end having pin 24 is Va second bracket generally designatedby the numeral 40. This bracket includes a support member 42 which isadapted to be telescopic about horizontal slide bar 20. The supportmember 42 may include horizontal openings 44 which will be adapted tocoincide or match with openings 22 of the slide bar. The support memberpreferably includes a vertical slot 46 extending from top to bottomthereof which is adapted to coincide with the vertical slot 26 of i thehorizontal slide bar. Similar to the first bracket, an angle ybracket 48is attached to the support member 42 in the manner shown and facing theiirst angle bracket. The bracket is supported by structural gusset 50.In the embodiment shown, a liexible cable 52 vis attached at one end tothe second bracket, specifically the structural gusset as shown, whilethe other end is adapted to retaina wedge locking element 54. Thelocking element is adapted to be inserted within vertical slots 46 ofthe second bracket and 26 of the slide bar 20. At the outward end of thesecond bracket some upwardly and outwardly extending lip mem- 3 42 orthe lip portions S6 of the second bracket for forcing the form memberstogether until such position is reached where wedge locking element 54can be inserted to lock the parts into place. Thereafter, the pivotingmember 58 :can be removed and used at the next adjacent support clamp.

I n FIGURE 3 an alternate embodiment of this invention is describedwherein a horizontal slide bar 70 comprises a single piece (a crosssection `of which is shown superimposed thereon) having a multiplicityof horizontal openings similar to that shown in FIGURES l and 2. At theone end, not shown, is xed a iirst bracket similar to that generallydesignated 28, while a second bracket, as shown in FIGURE l, is replacedby a wedge block 72 which is adapted to be yoked over bar 70 into aposition clamping the parts together andy held by a pin 76 which iscarried by the wedge block 72 by a cable 74.

In the operation of the apparatus lof this invention, ordinarily thebeam form members and kickers are in the position shown, being supportedas shown in FIG. 4 by vertical T-brace supports 80 which extend betweenthe door and the bottom of forms 10, 12 and 14 and kickers 16 and 18.Spaced therebetween are the clamps of this invention. Usually, thespacing required between the first bracket and the second bracket,relative to the vertical locking slots 26 has been established..Accordingly, the first bracket 28 is ordinarily axed in a given positionto the horizontal slide bar 20 by a key or pin 34. The second bracket isgenerally not in position as yet. The brackets may be preliminarily hungin place by one man who positions the angle bracket 36 of the lirstbracket member over kicker 16. In such a position the clamp of thisinvention will hang balanced until raised to the substantiallyhorizontal position wherein the second bracket 40 may be moved into itsposition and locked by wedged element 54, which may be inserted andhammered downward into place if desired. In some instances it will benecessary to use the pivotal member 58 to force the beam support formsinto a tight position and to position the second bracket 40 whereinwedge lock member 54 may be inserted within the vertical slots soprovided. As such, an 'operator may stand within the space between thevertical side wall members and 12 operating the pivotal means as desiredand wedging the parts in position and thence moving to the nextposition. Of course, to disassemble the reverse procedure is followed.

In the embodiment 'of FIGURE 3 it is merely necessary to attach thefirst bracket over the kicker on the left side, not shown, andthereafter insert the wedge yoke 72 in that space between the verticalside wall on theA right side and retaining pin 76 and hammer into placeto adequately clamp the forms together.

Although this invention has been described with reference to thespecific and preferred embodiments, it will be understood that minorchanges in constructions, combinations and arrangement of the parts maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for clamping together unattached longitudinal vertical sidewall forms spaced internally by a longitudinal horizontal bottom memberwith longitudinal rectangular kickers external of said side walls, saidwalls, member and kickers extending upward from a common lbottom planeand supported at spaced intervals upon vertical supports, comprising incombination therewith:

a horizontal rectangular conduit positioned transversely to saidunattached forms, member, and kickers be- -tween said vertical supports,said conduit having a Aplurality of parallel, horizontally spacedopenings therein across the side of said conduit, and a plurality ofspaced vertical slots in said conduit;

a first bracket adjacent one kicker, said bracket comprising:

(l) a support conduit telescopically movable along7 said horizontalslide,

(2) at least one horizontal opening in said support conduit coincidentto said openings in said horizontal slide to receive a pin therethroughwhereby said support conduit is aflixed to a given position adjacent oneend of said slide conduit, and

(3) an angle bracket attached to said support conduit and comprising avertical leg terminating its upper end with a horizontal leg forming aninside corner for abutment against the respective outer corner formed bythe vertical and horizontal edges of one of said kickers when said slideconduit is abutted against said forms along said common bottom plane;

a second bracket adjacent the other kicker comprising:

(l) a support conduit telescopically movable along said horizontalslide,

(2) a vertical slot in said bracket adjacent an outerend adapted toalign with any of said vertical slots in said slide conduit,

(3) upwardly and outwardly extending lips along said outer end of saidbracket,

(4) a wedged lock element adapted to be inserted in said aligned slots,said element retained to said bracket by a flexible cable, and

(5) an `angle bracket attached to said support conduit and comprising avertical leg terminating its upper end with a horizontal leg forming aninside corner for abutment against the respective outer corner formed bythe vertical and upper horizontal edges-of the other of said kickerswhen said slide conduit is abutted against said forms along said commonbottom plane; and

removable means pivotal between a fixed stop pin on said slide conduitand said lip on said second bracket to force said second bracket towardssaid first to clamp said forms whereby said vertical slots will besubstantially aligned to receive said wedge lock element.

Unattached concrete beam forms comprising:

a longitudinal horizontal member between longitudinal a removable clamppositionable between said vertical supports and transverse to saidlongitudinal forms along the bottom to retain said beam forms in fixedposition to receive said concrete,

said clamp comprising:

(l) a horizontal slide bar abuttable with said common bottom plane ofsaid beam forms and having spaced openings adjacent one end thereof,

(2) a first angle bracket affixed to said bar adjacent the other end,said bracket deiined by a substantially vertical leg terminating itsupper end with a substantially horizontal leg, the inside corner formedby said vertical and horizontal legs facing toward said one end of saidbar, and

(3) a second angle bracket identical to said first bracket with theinside corner of said vertical and horizontal legs facing towards saidfirst angle bracket, said bracket telescopically movable along said baradjacent one end of said bar;

the inside corners of said first and second brackets abuttable with thetop outer corners of said kickers when said horizontal slide bar isabutted against said common bottom plane; and

means to cooperatively lock said second bracket in a given position withrespect to said spaced openings.

UNITED References Cited by the Examiner STATES PATENTS 5 Federicks254-15 Corrs 25-1315 Symons 25131.5 Symons 269--208 Hunter 26a-20s 10Seely 269-208 Olsen ,Z5-131.5

Colt 25-131 Schneider 25-131.5

Wright 25-1315 Holmboe.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiner.

2. UNATTACHED CONCRETE BEAM FORMS COMPRISING: A LONGITUDINAL HORIZONTALMEMBER BETWEEN LONGITUDINAL VERTICAL SIDE WALL MEMBERS WHICH ARE BETWEENLONGITUDINAL AND SMALLER RECTANGULAR KICKERS, SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER,VERTICAL SIDE WALL MEMBERS AND KICKERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM A COMMONBOTTOM PLANE AND SUPPORTED UPON A PLURALITY OF SPACED VERTICAL SUPPORTS,IN COMBINATION WITH A REMOVABLE CLAMP POSITIONABLE BETWEEN SAID VERTICALSUPPORTS AND TRANSVERSE TO SAID LONGITUDINAL FORMS ALONG THE BOTTOM TORETAIN SAID BEAM FORMS IN FIXED POSITIONS TO RECEIVE SAID CONCRETE, SAIDCLAMP COMPRISING: (1) A HORIZONTAL SLIDE BAR ABUTTABLE WITH SAID COMMONBOTTOM PLANE OF SAID BEAM FORMS AND HAVING SPACED OPENINGS ADJACENT ONEEND THEREOF, (2) A FIRST ANGLE BRACKET AFFIXED TO SAID BAR ADJACENT THEOTHER END, SAID BRACKET DEFINED BY A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL LEGTERMINATING ITS UPPER END WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LEG, THEINSIDE CORNER FORMED BY SAID VERTICAL AND HORI-